Multiple individuals were taken into custody by the New York Police Department (NYPD) following a pro-Palestinian protest inside Butler Library at Columbia University. Acting President Claire Shipman said the university requested police intervention due to safety concerns and the presence of people unaffiliated with the institution. The NYPD confirmed the detentions but did not specify how many people were arrested or what charges they face.
The protest took place in reading room 301, just days before final exams were set to begin. Protesters entered the space around 3:15 p.m., reportedly causing a “crowd surge” that injured two university safety officers. Video footage showed tense confrontations between protesters and public safety officers, with demonstrators shouting that they were being hurt while trying to remain inside the building.
Police Detain Protesters as Demonstrators Demand Divestment and Rename Library After Activist
Mayor Eric Adams announced the NYPD’s campus operation around 7 p.m. to remove trespassers. Officers warned protesters to disperse, and those who did not comply were detained. Video evidence showed at least 15 individuals being escorted from the scene in zip ties, while officers in riot gear managed the crowd chanting “Free Palestine.” One video captured a public safety officer handcuffing a protester, underscoring the intensity of the operation.
Protesters called for Columbia to divest from companies with ties to Israel and attempted to rename the library the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” after a Palestinian activist killed in 2017. The demonstration was organized, at least in part, by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, although it is unclear if all protesters were affiliated with the group. Their actions reflect broader dissatisfaction with the university’s perceived complicity in global political issues.
Protests Resurface Amid Crackdowns, Visa Threats, and Federal Scrutiny of Campus Antisemitism Policies
This protest echoes a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia in 2024, including an occupation of Hamilton Hall and calls to rename it “Hind’s Hall.” These campus events have drawn increased federal attention, particularly from the Trump administration, which has scrutinized universities over their handling of antisemitism and revoked funding and visas as part of a broader crackdown. Columbia had already implemented new protest restrictions in response.
High-level political figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, commented on the situation, with Rubio signaling potential visa reviews. International students involved in previous protests, like Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Khalil, have faced detention and possible deportation. Meanwhile, congressional hearings continue to investigate how universities handle antisemitism, raising the stakes for institutional accountability and student activism alike.